AboutPatti Expertise To date, I've owned 7 dogs, all of which have lived into old age.
Having cared for them in all stages of life, I feel I can offer sound advice to other pet owners, and people considering getting a dog.
I am knowledgeable about the AKC (American Kennel Club) dog breeds, training and exercise, caring for sick and elderly pets, feeding, as well as many holistic treatments pets can benefit from.
My only request is that you write me using standard English and punctuation.
Experience My life experience in this field is more like "on the job training" rather than an actual degree in animal welfare. You may benefit from my experiences over the past 30 years.
Aside from the dogs I've owned, I'm also involved in "breed rescue" and have fostered several dogs, all of which have been adopted to wonderful "forever homes".
I find helping people who want a dog very rewarding.
Question My dog is pretty elderly, going on about 13 or 14 in human years now, and is
doing many unusual things he has not done previously. He will roll on his
back, like he is scratching it and make weird noises. That seems normal to
me but he is also wandering into odd places around the house such as the
upstairs bedrooms, which he knows he is not allowed to go, and the
basement, which he never goes and doesnt even like. He walks around the
house seeming like hes restless and is always traveling to these odd places.
Why is he doing these things?
Answer Hi Steve,
The rolling around on his back really doesn't sound like much more than your dog enjoying a good scratch. It could be his skin is drier than it used to be when he was younger, and the scratching just feels good!
The wandering off inside your home, and being restless though, sounds like a condition called "Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome", or CDS. Dogs with CDS may show signs of confusion, forgetfulness, less responsiveness, and/or other various behavioral changes that are not a normal part of aging. These subtle signs may not be exhibited in the examination room of your vet's clinic, so it's easy to miss during an examination. Your vet relies on you because you know your dog best, to report the symptoms.
CDS is believed to be caused by physiological and chemical changes in the brain of aging dogs that affect brain function. It's often compared to Alzheimer's Disease that humans can develop.
Symptoms to watch for are:
* Disorientation (not due to vision or hearing loss)
* Wanders aimlessly
* Appears lost or confused in familiar surroundings such as the house or yard
* Gets "stuck" in corners or under or behind furniture
* Stares into space or at walls
* Has difficulty finding the door
* Stands at the wrong door to go outside
* Stands at the "hinge" (wrong) side of the door
* Does not recognize familiar people
* Does not respond to verbal cues or their name
* Appears to forget the reason for going outside
* Sleeps more in a 24-hour day (overall)
* Sleeps less during the night
* Decrease in purposeful activity in a 24-hour day
* Increase in aimless activity (such as wandering, and pacing)
* Solicits attention less
* Less likely to stand/lie for petting (walks away)
* Less enthusiasm upon greeting
* No longer greets family members
Your dog need only have 3-5 of these symptoms to be considered as having CDS.
There is an FDA approved medication available, called Anipryl to help dogs with the early stages of CSD. In studies, pet owners reported that 69% to 75% of dogs improved in at least one clinical sign after one month of Anipryl therapy, although it can sometimes take up to sixty days to see improvement.
Studies suggest that antioxidant treatment can also result in significant improvement. Some veterinarians treat affected dogs with a supplement of omega-3 fatty acids. You should ask your vet about this, and get a brand recommendation and dose. If your vet thinks it can help, you need to give the Omega's every day, and improvement may not be seen for a month or two.
It's important that you have your dog evaluated by your vet to rule out medical conditions for your dog's behavior. There is no blood test or scan to diagnose canine cognitive dysfunction. Your veterinarian will probably want to perform a thorough physical exam with blood tests and a urinalysis to rule out other conditions.
Medical diseases that can have symptoms similar to cognitive dysfunction include:
* Any Central Nervous System disease, such as a tumor;
* Any disease that indirectly affects the Central Nervous System, such as end stage organ dysfunction like renal (kidney) or hepatic (liver) disease;
* Endocrine disorders
* Conditions that affect circulation or blood supply
